All the struggles for freedom are connected... Our struggle is for all life.
Liberty is the key to maintaining it.

- Matilda Joslyn Gagenineteenth century prolife feminist radical and
pioneering scholar in the field of women's studies

An Invitation from the Publisher

From its 1995 founding by Rachel MacNair, the Feminism and Nonviolence Studies
Association has been dedicated to publishing an academic, interdisciplinary
journal which explores the long but vital tradition of prolife feminism and
related life and death issues. Initially a print journal called Studies in
Prolife Feminism, in 1997 the journal changed to an online format and was
renamed Feminism and Nonviolence Studies.

Prolife feminism is the belief, grounded in women's reproductive experiences,
that abortion is anything but a liberating act of choice. Rather, it is an act of
violence which destroys the life of an unborn child and wounds his or her
mother, an act of violence so often perpetrated by a culture which does not
value either of them enough to provide truly lifeaffirming alternatives.
Prolife feminism is radical feminism in the sense that it addresses the very
roots of gender injustice. And it is radical in the sense that it has long
and deep roots in the centuries-long struggle for women's equality, as well
as enduring connections to a variety of social justice causes including
peace, child welfare, the rights of oppressed minorities including disabled
persons, abolition of the death penalty, and concern for animals and the
environment.

The Feminism and Nonviolence Studies Association is a member organization of
Consistent Life (formerly the Seamless Garment Network), whose own mission statement reads:

"We the undersigned are committed to the protection of life, which is
threatened in today's world by war, abortion, poverty, racism, the arms race,
the death penalty and euthanasia. We believe that these issues are linked
under a consistent ethic of life. We challenge those working on all or some
of these issues to maintain a cooperative spirit of peace, reconciliation and
respect in protecting the unprotected."

In this spirit -- whatever your opinions may be about abortion, women's
equality, or other life issues -- we invite you to read our journal and join in
the ongoing process of reflection, dialogue and nonviolent, compassionate social
action that we wish to foster.